Register-receptacle for stamps, tags, and the like



Patented Nov. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT o-FFi-cR'EGISTERiv-RECE'PTAGLE FORl STAMPS, TAGs AND THE LIKE Harry" L. ShulmamA'tlanta, Ga.

Application January'15, 1943; SerialkNogATZjZfi 1' Claim: 232-4 Thisinvention relates, to receptacles: broadly, and-particularly to what isherein. termedareg isterereceptacle, an; object of the inventionbeingto.. provide means whereby articles such as ration stamps,tags,.and.like identifying devices may be quickly and easily depositedinand automatically allotted to individual trays or containers there forin stores or other placeswliere suchineans may be used toadvantage,,thereby simplifying the task of. collecting, arranging andsorting the stamps or other articles and also facilitating the work of achecker, cashier or other employee to a marked degree.

The collection of ration stamps, tags and the like largely used incommercial transactions in stores and other places of business imposesan added burden on th employees, resulting in confusion and slowing downof trade, particularly in self-service stores where a checker ofttimeshas to take care of a long line of customers during rush hours. In manyinstances, the clerk or checker becomes utterly confused and much timeis lost in subsequently sorting the stamps or tags, and in someinstances the stamps are trampled underfoot and mutilated beyondrecognition. The present invention has effectively solved this problem.

Other objects include the provision of a multicompartmentregister-receptacle which may be supported in an upright positionadjacent a cash register or hung on the wall in any convenient location;to provide a device of this character which may be easily manufacturedfrom cardboard or other readily available material at an unusually lowcost; and-to generally improve and simplify such receptacles.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent inview of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing,wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a register-receptacle inaccordance with the invention;

Fig. 2, a side or edge elevation, and

Fig. 3, a view in perspective of the receptacle showing the lid raisedand one of the individual trays removed and in projected position.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the register-receptacle comprises amain tray compartment. Ill, preferably of rectangular formation, havingtherein a plurality of individual trays or receptacles l I, each of thelatter being removable as indicated in Fig. 2. Thes trays or individualreceptacles are also preferably of rectangular formation and; togetheras a group: fit snugly 'in the main compartment Ill. 1

A' lid uncover I2 is adaptedto. fit oversthetm'ain receptacle l0 and isformed witha series of register slots l3, one for eachof theindividualcontainers or trays ll. These slots l3 are preferably formed on the1id:at points which will bring the slots adjacent the top of. eachindividual tray. The slots-are. designatedby suitable. in.- dicia,depending upon. thetype of stamps-ortags for which the register isadapted. In the present instance, alphabetical letters are used.However, these may be made standard and a chart prepared to assist inallocating and sorting the stamps. Also, the respective trays may bedesignated according to name, brand, or like easilyread designationwhich will facilitate the work of a checker or clerk during rush hours.In the present instance, the main tray compartment 10 is adapted tocontain twenty trays, but it will be obvious that this number may beincreased or decreased in accordance with the type of service to beperformed.

In order that the register-receptacle may be supported on a counter inan upright position adjacent a cash register or hung on a wall or otherconvenient support, an easel is provided and generally indicated at I4,said easel preferably being made up of a piece of cardboard or the likehaving a flat central portion l6 suitably secured to the back of themain tray compartment' Ill, and a pair of divergent side panels defininglegs I! and I1. As can be readily observed from Fig. l, the top of thecentral portion.

16 terminates in a handle portion I8 having a slot [9 therein wherebythe register-receptacle may be easily carried from place to place orhung from a nail or the like.

Each of the side panels which provide the legs l1, I1 is foldable and isformed with a cut-out portion 2% including a slot 20, and the centralportion 16 is provided with a latching tab 2| which may be formed bycutting out a suitable area of said portion and scoring along the bottomof the tab to provide a hinge, so that the tab may be. bent down intolatching position when it is desired to set up the easel. The particularshape of the cut-out portions 20 and 20' results in the formation of aninward latch projection 22 and a stop 23.

The latch projection 22 serves as a retainer against back or returnmovement of the tab 2| when it is in its down or latching position,while the stop 23 limits the down position of said tab.

In use, the register-receptacle may be placed on a counter adjacent acash register or it may be hung on a wall or like support. When theclerk or checker receives a ration stamp, tag or the like and which isgenerally delivered with the money for the purchase, the stamps or tagsare placed in the register in the slots adapted to receive the same. Ifit is desired to fold the legs l1, 11, it is only necessary to push thetab 2| upwardly past the latch projection, 22 and flat against the backportion N5 of the easel, whereupon the said legs may be folded towardsone another (or outwardly if desired). To bring the legs of the easel tooperative: position, it is only necessary to turn them outwardly andbring the" tab or latch 2| down into registration with the slot 20'.Whether or not the legs are folded when the register-receptacle is hungfrom awall depends upon certain conditions. Thus, if 'hung below thenormal level of use, the legs may be set up to cause the face of theregister to tilt for-' wardly and upwardly whereas: if hung above suchlevel, the legs may be folded to bring the face ofthe register in asubstantially vertical plane.

' The entire register-receptacle may be made of cardboard, wood, metalor anyother available material. The simplicity of manufacture will beobvious. The easel may be made separately in one stamping operation andcemented or otherwiseattached to the back of the main tray compartmentI0. Actual use has demonstrated the time and labor saved by therelatively simple device.

It will be understood that certain changes in construction and design ofmy improved registerreceptacle may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A register-receptacle for stamps, tags, and like identifying media,comprising a. main base container, a plurality of individual traysremovably disposed in said container, a cover engaging over saidcontainer and formed with a plurality of slots, one for each tray, saidcover bearing identifying indicia for said slots, and a foldable easelconnected to the back or outer side of said main receptacle formingstrengthening and reinforcing means for the box, said easel beingprovided with side panels foldable inwardly and outwardly to providelegs for the easel and the portion of the easel which is secured to themain container being provided with a hinged tab adapted to'engage saidlegs and support the latter in set-up position, the upper portion ofsaid easel projecting above the main container and being formed with afinger grip and hanging slot to provide a handle for the receptacle andalso to provide means whereby the receptacle may be hung from a wall orother convenient support.

, HARRY L. SHULMAN.

